From 1994 to 2023: Mahindra Electric’s journey
In the busy world, we live in right now, many technological advancements are happening at the same time. In addition, there are many innovative ideas in each field. Our world has changed from an era of bullock carts to the era of electric vehicles and the innovations of adventurous, affordable, and exciting features of the new generation of electric vehicles that will lead to a green future without any pollution, leading us to a more peaceful and sustainable world.
As we enter the era of electric cars, we believe it is necessary to unravel a company that pioneered this concept in India. This was long before another manufacturer thought of it. Well, of course, we mean the Reva Electric Vehicle Company. This company is now known as Mahindra Electric and produces a wide range of electric vehicles that Indians can be proud of buying. Not only that, but Mahindra Electric’s expertise has also helped the Mahindra Racing team make headlines on the world stage. This is done by competing in the Formula E championship every year since 2014. Let’s look back at this long journey and its results. How did Mahindra Electric end up where it is today?
A Brief History of Reva
Reva Electric Car Company was established in 1994. It is a joint venture between Maini Group of Bangalore and AEV LLC of the USA. From the outset, this company’s goal was to develop and market an affordable compact electric car. His first fruits of labor appeared in 2001 with the introduction of the two-seat electric car Reva. In case you didn’t know, this is a Mahindra e2o-based car. The Reva EV was launched in the UK as the G-Wiz in 2003. It was eventually available in 24 countries, selling around 4,500 vehicles in total. This number may not seem like much but consider that these vehicles were sold at a time when EVs were little known globally.
Here comes Mahindra
Among Mahindra & Mahindra’s broader strategies to promote sustainable mobility, Reva was acquired in May 2010 as part of its acquisition strategy. Mahindra e2o was born in 2013. The car is a rebranded Reva NXR, an electric vehicle priced at Rs 6 lakh. It comes with a lithium-ion battery that takes five hours to fully charge and offers a 100-kilometer range. The two-door model enjoyed moderate success and was eventually withdrawn from the market. Recently discontinued, the Mahindra E2o Plus (pictured above) represents the last vestige of the Reva legacy. This advanced electric vehicle offers economical driving and a 5-seat capacity. Thanks to the 88W battery in the center, the car can travel 140 km on a single charge.
An era of change
In 2016, the company was renamed Mahindra Electric Mobility Ltd. This company focuses on electric cars but also powertrains and integrated mobility solutions. And in the same year, eVerito was launched.
It is Mahindra Electric’s flagship product and also India’s first electric sedan. It boasts a range of 181 km and a Direct Drive transmission, a spacious interior, and regenerative braking, among others. Mahindra Electric’s portfolio also includes cargo vehicles such as the eSupro and Treo. The wide range of electric vehicles the company offers proves electric vehicles have a long run in India. Mahindra Electric and Mahindra Racing have a partnership to equip the cars for the Formula E championship.
e-Verito
Mahindra launched its second electric vehicle in 2016 with the e-Verito. This vehicle is powered by a 21.2 kWh battery with a claimed range of 181 kilometers. It is based on verito, a development product of the Mahindra Renault Dacia Logan joint venture.
Treo, Treo Yaari and Treo Zor
In November 2018, Mahindra Electric launched the Treo tricycle, powered by Lithium-ion technology. The range includes the Treo, an electric car, and the Treo Yaari, an electric trailer. The automatic suspension has an ARAI-certified range of 170 km and a normal range of 130 km on the Mahindra Treo after 3 hours and 50 minutes of charging. The Treo Yaari’s certified range is 130 km, which can reach approximately 85 km after 2 hours and 30 minutes of charging. Both are direct-drive models. The Treo has a peak power of 5.4kW and maximum torque of 30Nm, while the Treo Yaari has an output capacity of 1.96kW and maximum torque of 19Nm.
Both the Treo and Treo Yaari have a wheelbase of 2050mm and a turning radius of 2.9m. The Treo series has a vehicle-free weight of 340-350 kg, while the Treo Yaari series has a non-vehicle weight of 265-275 kg.
Mahindra Electric has signed a memorandum of understanding with TWU (Three Wheels United), a social enterprise that provides affordable financing to rickshaw drivers, and Smart E to deliver 2,000 Treos.
XUV400
Mahindra launched the electric XUV400, based on the Mahindra XUV300. The new sport utility vehicle uses only the Mahindra Twin Peaks logo but in bronze. It also offers the XUV400 Special Edition. Mahindra claims a range of 456 km on a single charge under the Indian Driving Cycle (MIDC). When plugged into a 50kW DC fast charger, the battery can be charged from 0 to 80% in 50 minutes. When charged via a 7.2kW/32A outlet, it takes 6 hours and 30 minutes to recharge from 0 to 100%. In contrast, the same figure is achieved in 13 hours when using a standard 3.3kW/ household outlet.
A regenerative braking system and three different driving modes are also available on the Mahindra XUV400, which can be adjusted to boost steering response, throttle response, and braking effectiveness. Mahindra claims the XUV400 is capable of single-pedal driving where the regenerative braking system aids deceleration.
Mahindra Thar.e
Dubbed Thar.e, the concept embodies the Chakan-based automaker’s vision for future off-road vehicles. The updated INGLO P1 platform is specifically designed for off-road vehicles with higher ground clearance and greater approach and exit angles by minimizing front and rear overhangs. At the rear, the Thar.e has a hinged trunk, containing a spare wheel and square LED taillights. The updated INGLO P1 platform is specifically designed for off-road vehicles with higher ground clearance and greater approach and exit angles by minimizing front and rear overhangs. Ideally, an electric SUV would have a ground clearance of 680-740mm at the front and 640-680mm at the rear, with a wheelbase of 2,775-2,975mm.
Although Mahindra has yet to reveal a specific launch schedule, with the launch dates of the upcoming XUV and BE SUVs, we believe the launch of the all-electric Thar will be only after 2026.
Also, Mahindra’s upcoming EVs are receiving a lot of attention due to their ambitious and futuristic design.
Mahindra BE.05 Electric SUV
Mahindra has released the first teaser of the production version of its upcoming electric SUV – the BE.05. The demo photo was unveiled at the company’s Futurescape event in Cape Town, South Africa, where the company showcased the new Global Pick-up and the all-electric Thar.e. First appearing as a concept about a year ago, the Mahindra BE.05 will be introduced later this year and it will be the first electric vehicle in the company’s Beyond Electric lineup. The teaser photo released by the company gives us an overview of the car while revealing new details. Compared to the concept model introduced last year, the production version looks a bit more aggressive. At the moment, not much else has been revealed about the electric SUV. However, we do know that it will compete with the upcoming Tata Curvv. The electric SUV will also likely be offered in a single- or dual-engine version.
Lastly, some thoughts
From a historical perspective, it is apparent that the company has come a long way from the beginning when looking back on its journey. It is important to remember that without the efforts of decades ago, they would not be here today. This has made the company’s rivals, who are also working hard to keep up with them with the launch of new products, even more, committed to beating them in the fast-growing EV field.
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